Ice creeper



pn-il 6, 1937. E. H. ANsHELM ICE CREEPER4 Filed Aug. 8, 1936 Patented Apr. 6, 1937 UNITEDl STATES PATENT GFFICE 1 Claim.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in ice creepers and has for one of its objects to provide an exceedingly simple and effective device of this character that may be readily and easily applied to and removed from articles of footwear such as shoes, overshoes, rubbers, boots and the like.

Another object of my invention is to produce an ice creeper which is relatively inexpensive in the cost of manufacture although strong and durable and eiiicient in use.

Another object of my invention is to construct an ice creeper consisting of a strip of metal having its ends turned up to produce flanges which engage 4the sides of the article of footwear and provided with projections or teeth to engage ice on which the wearer is walking.

A further object of the invention is to form an ice creeper consisting of a narrow flat bar or strip with projections or teeth protruding from opposite faces, one set to engage the sole of the article of footwear and the other set to engage an icy surface.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an ice creeper consisting of a strip of metal having apertured upturned ends, a set of teeth projecting from the outer face of the strip to engage an ice coated surface, another s et of teeth projecting from the inner face of the strip to bite into the sole of an article of footwear and arranged in uniform positions to function as guides, and a strap or equivalent means passing through the apertures in the upturned ends and lying within the space between the second set of teeth, said strap adapted to pass over the toe of the article of footwear and adjustable to various sizes.

With the above and other objects in view this invention consists of the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then designated by the claim.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same I will describe its construction in detail referring by numerals to the accompanying drawing, in which:-

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an article of footwear with my ice creeper mounted thereon. Fig. 2 is an enlarged edge view of the ice creeper per se.

Fig. 3 is a bottom or outer face view thereof. Fig. 4 is a top face or plan view of the same with portions of the securing strap broken away.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

In carrying out my invention as herein embodied I0 represents a tread plate consisting of a fiat strip or bar of metal having its ends turned up to provide flanges I I adapted to engage the sides of an article of footwear when the tread plate is placed against the sole of said article of footwear.

'Ihe flanges II have elongated apertures I2 contiguous the top surface of the tread plate through a strap or equivalent securing means I3 passes so as to lie fiat on top of the tread plate. This strap is provided with it may be adjusted to fit various sized articles of footwear.

A set of teeth I5 project from the top surface of the tread plate and are arranged i-n two parallel rows adjacent to and parallel with the edges of said tread plate and said rows are spaced a sufficient distance to provide a place for that part of the strap which is superimposed on the tread plate. Said set of teeth I5 are long enough to project above the top surface of the strap material on the upper surface of the tread plate and slightly bite into the sole of the article of footwear on'which the creeper is used. Said teeth must only grip the sole because the device is often used on rubbers and if the teeth are very long the rubbers will be damaged.

Another set of teeth I 6 project from the bottom surface of the tread plate and can be arranged in any suitable manner of grouping. Said second mentioned set of teeth I6 are designed to grip an ice coated surface to prevent slipping and thus assist a person to travel on foot over icy places.

In producing the teeth I5 and I6, I prefer to partially sever sections from the strip or bar of metal and then turn some up and some downwhich can be done by the well known process of metal stamping or punching.

To apply an ice creeper of this kind it is only necessary to place the tread plate II) under the sole of an article of footwear in a location where the flanges II will pass over the edges of said article of footwear and then pull the strap I3 taut over the top of the toe of the article of footwear.

With the creeper attached ready for use, as soon as weight is placed thereon, the teeth I5 will grip into the .sole of the article of footwear. The creeper is now prevented from moving lengthwise of the article of footwear and the flanges I I keep it a buckle I4 whereby from shifting sidewise. Also the teeth l5 hold that portion of the strap which is on top of the tread plate from sliding about.

Of course I do not wish to be limited to the 5 exact details of construction herein shown and described as these may be varied within the scope of the appended claim without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I 10 claim as new and useful isz- An ice creeper consisting of a tread plate, upturned, flanges at the ends of said plate, said flanges having transversely elongated apertures therethrough contiguous the upper surface of the CTI 

